Top 5 Free CAD Software Packages on the Market for 2019

Everyone loves to get something for free, but if that something doesn't do what it's supposed to... it's still overpriced. On the other hand, if it's free and it's just what you're looking for, it's like finding money in the street. If you're looking for basic CAD software packages and do not need highly technical functionality, you likely will find all you need, and maybe more, in one of these five quality packages that you can download for free.

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AutoCAD Student Version

What We Like

Part of the Autodesk family of modeling applications.
AutoCAD is an industry standard.

What We Don't Like

Watermarking on the free software editions.
AutoCAD is more full-featured (and therefore more complex) than some other programs on this list, making it slightly less newcomer-friendly.

AutoCAD, the heavy hitter of the CAD industry, offers a free, fully functional version for download to students and faculty. The only limitation on the software is a watermark on any plots you generate, designating that the file was created with a non-professional version.

Not only does Autodesk offer its base AutoCAD package free, but it also offers free licenses for almost its entire suite of AEC vertical packages, such as Civil 3D AutoCAD Architecture, and AutoCAD Electrical.

If you're looking to learn CAD or just do some personal design work, this is absolutely the way to go.

Visit AutoDesk

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Trimble SketchUp

What We Like

Very clear features grid delineating paid-versus-free features.
Range of options from home hobbyist to industry professional.

What We Don't Like

Pricing model isn't great.
Free feature is web-only with many important features hobbled.

SketchUp was originally developed by Google and was one of the greatest free CAD packages ever put on the market. In 2012, Google sold the product to Trimble. Trimble has enhanced it and developed it further and now offers a slew of related products. Its free version SketchUp Make has plenty of power, but if you need additional functionality, you can buy SketchUp Pro — and pay a hefty price tag.

The interface makes it easy to master the basics. Even if you've never done any CAD work or 3D modeling before, you can pull together some really nice presentations in minutes.

Of course, if you're looking to put out detailed designs with accurate sizing and tolerances, you'll need to spend some time learning the ins and outs of the program. The SketchUp website offers a really impressive array of video and self-paced training options to help you along the way.

Visit SketchUp

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DraftSight

What We Like

The 2D version is genuinely free and not limited.
Interoperability with Autodesk is a great feature.

What We Don't Like

The website focuses on the paid models; you have to dig to find the 2D edition.
Not much online info about it — you have to download and install it before you really get a feel for the program.

DraftSight (the Individual version) is a free software package that is ideal for personal use. There are no fees or limitations on usage or plotting. The only requirement is that you must activate the program with a valid email address.

DraftSight is a basic 2D drafting package that looks and feels very much like AutoCAD. It has all the drafting tools you'll need for generating professional-looking plans: lines and polylines, dimensions and text, and full layering capabilities. DraftSight even uses the DWG format as its file type, the same as Autodesk products, so you'll have the ability to open and share files with other users.

Visit DraftSight

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FreeCAD

What We Like

Well-supported open-source platform.
Complex features ideal for engineering.
Well-optimized for 3D work.

What We Don't Like

A bit of a clunky program to work with.
2D features aren't great.

FreeCAD is a serious Open Source offering that supports parametric 3D modeling, which means you can modify your design by going back into your model history and changing its parameters. The target market is mostly mechanical engineers and product design, but it's got a lot of functionality and power that anyone would find attractive.

Like many open-source products, it has a loyal base of developers and can compete with some of the commercial heavy hitters because of its ability to create real 3D solids, support for meshes, 2D drafting and lots of other features. Further, it's customizable and is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, Ubuntu, and Fedora.

Visit FreeCAD

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LibreCAD

What We Like

Free and open-source.
Excels at 2D work.

What We Don't Like

Not as strong for 3D work.
Much of the website is focused on stuff that only really matter to app developers, not to CAD users — like reliance on QT4 vs. QT5 frameworks.

Another Open Source offering, LibreCAD is a high-quality, 2D-CAD modeling platform. LibreCAD grew out of QCAD, and, like FreeCAD, has a large, loyal following of designers and customers.

It includes lots of powerful features that include snap-to-grid for drawing, layers, and measurements. Its user interface and concepts are similar to AutoCAD, so if you have experience with that tool, this should be easy to master.

Visit LibreCAD